Recording mechanism



March 21, 1944. E. D. BURTS RECORDING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 5, 1940 12115 JOHN DOE GRO. 4-

RECORDING MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 5, 1940 2 SheetvS-Sheet 2 405? 2/ Z 5155 J5 54 sa 45 k44? r1 il @a 3958 7 I 6g I 66 ro (6/ 50634K EUQTS @M 'SRQW Patented Mar. 21, 1944 *y UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE Y' l 2,344,615 f l Application October 5, 1940, Serial No. 359,971

2 Claims. (Cl. 23A-57) Many manufacturers, wholesalers and distrib- I utors contact the retail trade for their particular line by sending out salesmen who make personal calls. It is, of course, necessary that each salesman be depended upon to make the calls listed for his territory but it is very easy for a salesman, in making daily reports t his ernployer, to list retail establishments as having been called upon without actually having made such calls. Mere oral or written records by salesmen, therefore, do not denitely establish the calls which have been made.

An important object oi the present invention is to provide a recording mechanism through which salesmen or other persons" may record calls which they make, whereby a denite record will be made of trade or other calls.

A iurther object is to provide, in effect, a two part recording mechanism one oi which is carried by the salesman and the other of which remains in each establishment to which calls are made, and to so construct the two parts with respect to each other that they may be brought together to record on ythe part carried by the salesman any desired data as to each call, such as the name of the establishment and the time or the call.

A further object is to provide a recording mechanism wherein each establishment upon which a salesman is to call is -provided with a clock having associated therewith a printing mechanism whereby the name, number orl the like of the establishment is adapted to be printed together -with the time of day at which a call is made, and to provide the salesman or other person with a mechanism adapted to be inserted into or pressed against the mechanism in the store'to be provided with a permanent record in accordance with the data adapted tobe printed by the mechanism in the store. t

A further object is to provide such an appa ticular formation ofthe inter-fitting parts being such that only the correct salesman-carried mechanism may 'be employed for insertion into the mechanism in the store or the like.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention vwill become apparent during'the course of the following description. v

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the portable unit separated from the stationary unit,

unit. l

Figure 3 is a section on line of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on linev 4-4 of Figure 3, K

Figure 5v is a detail perspective view of the internal frame structure of the portable unit, parts being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view or 4a bearing structure and associated parts,

Figure 'l is a sectional view takensubstantially on line 1--1 of Figure 1 showing the portable and stationary units separated.

, Figure 'la is a fragmentary elevation of a' portion of the door of the stationary unit,

Figure 8 is a vertical section on line 8--8 of Figure 7, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view on line t 9 9 of Figure?,

Figure 9a is a detail sectional view Aon line Sar- 8a orFigure9,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a por tion of the internal mechanism of the portable unit, a portion of the casing and associated elements being shown in section,

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view on line II-II of Figure 10, 'parts being shown irrelevation, and,

Figure 12 is a detail sectional view of the paper spool operating clutch.

Referring to Figures 1, '1, 8 and 9, the numeral III designates the stationary unit of the apparatus comprising an attaching plate II secured to a wall in an establishment such as a retail store. Opposite sides of the upper portion of the plate II may be provided with inwardly extending flanges I2 to form slots I3 to receive advertising cards or the like.v A casing I4 is secured against the face of the plate I I below the flanges I2. For the purpose of securing the casing I4 in position against unauthorized removal the rear wall I5 oi' the casing is provided with keyhole slots I6 to i'eceive bolts I1 carried by the plate I I. These Figure 2 is an end elevation of the portablev bolts are accessible only through an opening I8 in the top oi the casing I4, and this opening is normally closed by a cover plate I9 provided with a lock 28 having a locking finger 2l adapted to engage beneath the top Wall of the casing I4. Adjacent the rear edge of the opening I8, the cover plate I8 is provided with rearwardly extending lips 22 engaging beneath the adjacent portion of the top of the casing.

A clock 23 is carried by the casing I4 adjacent one end thereof as shown in Figures l, 8 and 9.

cal as will be obvious. The casing of the clock projects into the casing I4 through an opening 24 in the forward wall 25 of the casing I4. The clock is provided with the usual dial 26 and hour and minute hands 21 and 28 respectively. The shafts of the hour and minute hands are respectively provided with bevel gears 28 and 30 as shown in Figure 9, for a purpose to be described.

A shaft 3| extends horizontally parallel to the front wall 25 of the casing I4 and is provided with a bevel gear 32 meshing with the gear 29. A tubular shaft 33 surrounds the shaft 3| and is provided with a bevel gear 34 meshing with the gear 38. The shaft 3| obviously is supported for rotation by the tubular shaft 33 and the latter is supported in a bearing 35 as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

A number wheel 36 is carried by the shaft 3| and bears numerals from 1 to 12 corresponding to the hours on the clock face, the wheel 38 being .driven through the bevel gears 32 and 28, the latter oi which is connected to the hour hand shaft, as previously' stated. A second wheel 31 is mounted adjacent the wheel 36 and is secured to the tubular shaft 33. The wheel 31 is numbered in intervals of five from to 55 corresponding to the number of minutes in an hour. The wheel 31 is driven through the bevel gears 34 and 38, the latter o! which is driven from the minute 'hand shaft of the clock, as previously stated. This mechanism is only generally shown in the drawings and it will be understood that any conventional step by step drive may be employed to advance the number wheel one step every five minutes for a purpose which will become apparent. It also will become obvious that the numbering on the wheel 31 is purely arbitrary since the exact number of minutes to be r'ecorded is not of particular importance. If desired, the wheel 31 may be numbered in individual minutes from 0 to 59.

A stationary shaft 38 is mounted in a support 35 and is secured against rotation with respect thereto by a set screw 40. An indicia holder 4| is carried by the shaft 38 as shown in Figure 9 and is secured thereto by set screws 42. The shaft 3| projects inwardly beyond the wheel 36 and the adjacent end of the indicia holder 4I is provided with an opening 42' to receive the projecting end of the shaft 3| to form a bearing therefor and to act as a support therefor. The holder 4I is provided with a slot or recess 43 to receive an indicia bar 4.4 (Figures 9 and 9a) which may be provided with an identifying num ber or the name of the proprietor of the store in which the apparatus is arranged, or it may be provided with both a number and name. The indicia bar 44 is removably mounted in the recess 43 to be replaced, if necessary, for example upon a change in management or ownership of an establishment. The numbers and letters on the wheels 36 and 31 and bar 44 are raised so as t0 print through an inked ribbon 45 upon a paper This clock may be either mechanical or electristrip to be described. The ribbon 45 is endless and passes around rollers 46 and 41 arranged as shown in Figure 'I to provide the ribbon with a vertical run extending downwardly across the indicia on the wheels 36 and 31 and bar 44. From the rollers 46 and 41 the ribbon passes rearwardly around a roller 48 supported by a shaft 49 mounted in bearings 50 carried by the rear wall I5, as shown in Figure 9.

A pulley 5I is mounted on the shaft 48, and an endless member 52 extends around this pulley and around a pulley 53 rotatable on the shaft 38. A ratchet wheel 54 is formed integral with the pulley 53 and is held against reverse rotation by a pawl 55 which may be carried by the cover plate I9 as shown in Figure 7. It will become apparent that rotation of the ratchet wheel 54. rotates the wheel 48 through the belt 52 to advance the ribbon 45 in a step by step movement to present new surfaces of the ribbon over the printing indicia.

The rollers 46 and 41 merely constitute one suitable means for guiding the ribbon for passage over the printing indicia and any suitable guiding means may be employed. If the rollers referred to are used, the upper roller 46 may be supported by bearings 56 which may be carried by the front wall 25 of the casing. The roller 41 may be supported by bearings 51 carried by the bottom wall of the casing. If this arrangement is used, one of the bearings 51 may be provided with a forwardly projecting finger 58 (Figures 6, 7 and 9) for a purpose to be described.

'Ihe front wall 25 of the casting I4 is provided with inwardly extending flanges 58 to form an opening 60 to receive a portion of the portable unit of the mechanism to be described. The upper and lower ilanges forming the opening 68 may be provided with ribs 6I ri'or a purpose to be described.

The inner extremity of the opening 60 is normally closed yby a gate or door 62 pivotally supported at its bottom as at 63 and urged by a spring 64 toward closed position. The upper edge of the door 62 is provided adjacent one end thereof with a flap 65 (Figures 7 and 7a) pivoted to the main portion of the door as at 66 and urged by a spring 61 to its normal position shown in Figure 7. Upon the entrance into the opening 60 of the portable unit to be described, the entering portion of the portable unit swings the door 52 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 and the flap 85 will engage one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 to turn this wheel one step in a clockwise direction. The flap 65 may swing downwardly upon return movement of the door 62 to closed position to escape over the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel.

The portable or salesman-carried unit of the mechanism is shown in Figures l'to 7, inclusive, l0, 11 and 12. This unit comprises a casing indicated as a whole by the numeral 68 and is substantially pear shaped in cross-section as shown in Figure 3. One end of the casing is bulged into substantially cylindrical form as at 69 to receive mechanism to be described. The other end 1I of the casing is relatively thin and of a size whereby it may be inserted into the opening 88 in the unit Il). The top and bottom walls of the narrow portion 10 of the casing 68 are provided with grooves 1I corresponding in position to and adapted to receive the ribs GI. Thus it will be apparent that only the proper portable unit may be used in conjunction with the stationary unit IIJ. Moreover, a different arrangement of top and bottom ribs 8| and grooves 1| is employed to require that the portable unitvbe inserted right side up.

The casing 88 has one end provided with a wall 12 forming a closure therefor and the opposite end of the casing is open as at 18. The inner mechanism of the unit 88 is insertable into the opening 19. Such mechanism comprises a pair of end plates 14 and corresponding in shape to the cross-sectional shape of the casing 88 and insertable into the opening 19. The plate 14 is notched in opposite edges as a 18 to adapt it to pass inwardly extending lips 11 (Figure 4) carried by the top and bottom walls of the casing 88 for a purpose to be described. The-smaller ends of the plates 14 and 15 are rigidly connected by a bar 'l8-grooved in its outer :face as at 19 (Figure 3) to receive a rubber or similar cushion member 88 for a purpose to be described. v

Two small spools indicated as a whole by the numerals 8| and 82 respectively are mounted between the plates 14 and 15 and the shafts 88 and 84 of the spools are rotatably supported in these plates. The two spools are respectively provided with end flanges 85 and 88 and the two spools are adapted to hold a paper strip 81 as shown in Figure 3. The spool 82 has the paper strip wound thereon when inserted into the mechanism and the free end of the paper strip is passed around the bar 18 and back into the portable unlt to be wound upon the spool 8|. Small spring clips 88 carried by the plate 14 lightly engage the flanges 85 and 88 to prevent free turning of the spools.

Upon insertion of the small end of the portable unit into the opening 88 the desired data will be printed on the portion of the paper strip passing over the rubber cushion 88 and means is provided for advancing the paper strip 81 onestep upon the completion of each printing operation. Referring to Figure 3, the numeral 89 designates a rod mounted adjacent and parallel to the plate 14 and slidable in a guide 98 carried by such plate. The rod 89 has one end projecting through an opening 9| (Figures 2 .and 5) formed in the bar 18 and the projecting end of the rod x89 is adapted toengage the projection 58 (Figures 6 and 9) upon the impressing of the paper strip against the ribbon, as will become apparent. The door 82 is provided in its upper edge adjacent one end with a small opening 89 (Figures 1 and 9) through which the projecting end of the bar 89 is adapted to pass when the smaller end of the portable unit is inserted into the opening 88. A spring 92. surrounds the bar 89 and engages the guide 98 at one end. The other end of the spring engages a collar 93 carried by the rod 89, thus urging the rod 89 to the left as viewed in Figure 3.

The inner end of the rod 89 turns upwardly as at 94 and.is pivotally connected as at 95 to one being carried by the head 9| and the other arm carrying a roller |88 engageable with the paper 81 as it is wound upon the shaft 83. A projection |84 is carried by the inner arm of the member |82 to engage the flange 85 and thus prevent outward movement of the spring 88 away from the flange 85. This arrangement for imparting a step by step movement to the spool 8| effects a uniform linear step by step movement off the paper strip as will be apparent.

- In order to prevent unauthorized removal of the internal structure of the portable unit, a rotary locking cylinder |85 is carried by the plate and is provided inwardly thereof with rotatable arms |88 adapted to engage behind the lips 11 (Figure 4). Thus the Salesman or other person carrying the portable unit can not interfere with the operation of the internal elements of the unit. To prevent the user of the device from passing over the portable unit to someone else for use, or to render more dimcult such unauthorized use, the device is preferably provided r with means for locking it to the clothing of the end of an operating arm 98 mounted in a guide 91 carried by the plate 14. The arm 98 (Figures 10, l1 and l2) is provided with a head 98 having a tapered recess 99 in which is mounted a ball |88 engageable with the flange 88. A small ,spring |8| urges the ball |88 toward the shallower end of the slot 99 to engage the flange 85. thus forming an overrunning clutch movable freely in one direction with respect to the flange 85 and movable in the opposite directionto actuate the flange 85 and turn the spool 8|..

The actuating rod98 is provided with a preferably integral inverted U-shaped member |82 (Figures l0 and 1l) one end of the member |82 user. The casing of the portable unit is provided with a U-shaped handle |81 and a link |88 connects this handle to a flexible element |88 as shown in Figure l. A separable loop ||8 is carried by the other end of the flexible member and is locked in closed position by a suitable lock I I i.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Each store or other establishment called lupon by the salesman is provided with one of the stationary units of the apparatus, and the slots provided by theilanges I2 may be used to receive an advertising card of any kind. The bolts |1 (Figures '7 and 8) are carried by the plate Il and the nuts of the bolts are left sufficiently loose when the plate is attached to the wall or othev supporting surface, to permit the casing |8 to be placed in position with respect to the plate The casing I8 is placed with the bolts |1.in alinement with the larger ends of the keyhole slots I8, whereupon the casing |8 is lowered and the nuts of the bolts I1 are tightened through the opening I8. The cover plate |9 is then locked in position.

It will be apparent that any desired clock mechi anism may be employed for driving the shafts 8| and 33. The wheels 38 and 81 may bear any desired form of raised indicia to indicate hours and minutes of the day, as previously stated. The indicia-bearing member 44 will carry the name of the proprietor of the establishment in which the apparatus is used or a number to identify the establishment. Both the name and number may 'be used, if desired. The bars 44 for various stationary units are identical in shape and size ex- 'cept for the indicia thereon, so as to fit in the The porta-ble unit may be locked to the clothing of the salesman as by being attached through the separable loop ||8 to one of the belt loops of the saiesmans trousers to prevent his passing over the portable unit to someone else and thus providing a false indication of visits to any store or stores.

Assuming that a salesman for a wholesale concern is given a list o! retail stores to call on during a given day, the salesman will call on each of these stores and during his visit he will register his call on the paper strip 01 of the portable unit. In order to secure the record, the salesman will insert the narrow end of the portable unit into the opening I and push inwardly. This operation will cause the entering end of the portable unit to engage the door 02 (Figure 7) and swing it downwardly about its hinge Il. The flap Il will engage one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel Il, as the door 02 approaches horizontal position. thus turning the ratchet wheel one step in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7. The ratchet wheel 5I will then transmit movement through its pulley 53 (Figures 7 and 9) and through the flexible element 52 to turn the pulley Il. Thus the cylinder I8 will be turned one step to move the inked ribbon 0 5. Thus it will be apparent that upon each insertion of the portable unit into the opening 60 to provide a record of the salesmans visit, a fresh portion of the ribbon will be presented to the type on the :bar ll and wheels Il and 31.

Before the entering end of the portable unit reaches its innermost position in the stationary unit, the projecting end of the rod 89 (Figures 3 and 7) will engage the finger Il (Figures 3, 'I and 9) and further inward movement of the portable unit will push the end l0 inwardly. 'Ihis operation causes movement of the rod 00 to the right as viewed in Figure l2 and the Iball |00 will slip over the surface of the flange l5 oi the spool Il. This operation, of course, will take place against the tension of the spring 32, thus storing energy in this spring to return the rod Iland associated elements to normal position upon the removal of the portable unit from the opening 00.

Inward movement of the entering end of the portable unit will have brought the portion of the paper strip 01 which extends over the rubber cushion l0 into engagement with the ribbon 40 overlying the type on the bar I4 and wheels Il and I1. Inward pressure on the portable unit will then print on the paper strip the record of the name and/or number of the establishment together with the time oi' thecall.. The salesman will then withdraw the portable unit -from the opening 0l and the spring 02 will move the rod 09 to the left together with the elements connected thereto. The ball clutch .i00 -will engage against the flange Il of the spool 0i to turn the latter and wind the paper strip thereon. The roller |00 (Figure ll) moves radially outwardly as the paper strip is wound on the spool 0| and accordingly the ball clutch |00 always occupies the same position with respect to the outermost layer of paper on the spool 0l and accordingly winds the paper on the spool in a uniform step by step movement. The paper, of course, is unwound from the spool I! as it is wound upon the spool 8i.

At the end of the day the salesman will turn in the portable unit and an authorized person may apply the proper key to the lock |05 to turn the fingers |00 out of engagement with the fingers 11 (Figure 4), thus permitting the removal of the inner structure. of the portable unit. The spool 0i then may be removed and the paper thereon unwound for examination. 'I'he record thus formed. when the device is properly used in every establishment, will definitely set forth every establishment called upon by the salesman as well as the time that each call was made. The free end of the paper strip may be again attached to the shaft 83 and the inner structure of the portable unit returned to the casing il ready for use the following day.

It will be apparent that any suitable conventional structure may be provided whereby the spools 8| and l2 may be readily attached and detached. In the present construction, il' desired. the exibility of the two end plates 'Il and 1l may be depended upon to permit them to be freed from the reduced ends of the shafts 03 and Il to permit the removal of either or both spools. The lower spool 02, of course, need be removed only when it is necessary to provide a new paper strip. If the exibility of the plates Il and 15 is depended upon in the removal of the spools, the reduced end of the shaft 0I which extends through the plate 'Il will be sumciently short to permit its removal by providing the hinge Si and guide 01 (Figure 3) with sufficient play to permit the flange 05 to move away from the plate 1I the slight distance necessary to permit the removal and replacement of the spool Il.

The provision of the support 30 and bearing 3l (Figure 9) together with the connection of the shaft Il with the carrier Il provides ample support for the type-carrying elements when pressure is exerted thereagainst by the insertion of the portable unit in the manner described. The rubber cushion l0 (Figure 3) cushions the pressure against the type-bearing elements and at the same time insures the clear typing of the record on the paper strip. The tapering of the entering end of the portable unit is designed so as to linut the distance of entrance of the small end of the portable unit into the stationary unit, thus preventing damaging pressure from being exerted against the type-bearing elements.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present device provides means whereby any commercial establishment hiring salesmen to call upon the retail trade may secure a definite record of calls made by the salesmen. thus preventing the salesmen from skipping calls and turning in false reports The device also provides a check on the approximate time required for each call, including the time required for travelling from one store to another, thus providing an adequate guide to indicate whether the salesman is properly attending to his work. The device, of course, is not limited to use by salesmen but is adapted for use by anyone where it is desired to check upon or provide a record of calls made at different places.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

i. In a recording mechanism, a casing having an enlarged portion and a reduced end pro- `iecting therefrom and provided with an opening extending thereacross, a pair of spools in the enlarged portion of said casing supporting a record strip connected to said spools to be wound on one and unwound from the other, said record strip between said spools extending into the projecting portion of said casing and having a portion extending across said opening to receive a record thereon when the projecting end smentire 5 said opening lo reef-:ive n. record thereon when the projecting end of said casing is inserted into a. record printing device, said opening being re1a-v tively narrow and the portion of lthe paper strip extending thereacross being substantially fiush with the extremity o1 the reduced end of said casing whereby the exposed area of the paper strip is relatively-small to minimize danger of accidental damage thereto, and whereby the .adjacent extremity of said casing affords pro- 'teetion for the exposed portion of the paper strip.

EDGAR. D. BURTS. 

